A volunteer group promoting quality of life, and the
environment of the Lower Blue River Valley.
The Friends of the Lower Blue River are dedicated to sustaining and protecting the traditional agricultural character, promoting the safety of the residents, livestock and wildlife, and maintaining the environmental integrity of the Lower Blue River Valley through education, collaboration and community involvement.
To sustain and protect the traditional agricultural character, promote the safety of the residents, livestock and wildlife, and maintain the environmental integrity of the Lower Blue River Valley through education, collaboration and community involvement.
Friends of the Lower Blue River is committed to preserving the rich history of the Blue River Valley. Through grant support from the Summit Foundation, we have created this interactive tool that documents and takes you to key points of interest in the Valley. You will see photographs and read about those who came before us. Those who settled this pristine area of Summit and Grand Counties in the 1800’s and the relevance those sites have today. FOLBR invites you to take this journey on our website and discover the treasure, that truly is the Lower Blue River Valley.
Click Here to see History Story Map
Three months after the State Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) held a series of three public hearings on Peak Ranch Resource, the official ruling has now been issued. The document formally lays out the findings of fact and conclusions of law and order regarding Peak Materials attempt to gain a state permit to mine gravel on the Blue River. The ruling details the unanimous denial of the permit request.
By Lindsey Toomer---Summit Daily
Since a state board denied Peak Materials’ application for a gravel mining permit at the Hillyard property in April, neighbors have been left with many questions about what the property’s future might hold.
The costs are immense and are projected to increase as wildfires become more frequent and more severe.
The firefighting effort, including aviation and personnel is costly. The loss of buildings and power transmission lines is common. The loss of whole communities is tragic. As whole towns shut down, tax revenue drops dramatically. Recovery can be a long-term proposition. The loss of vegetation and recreation assets can be significant. The fire itself increases our carbon output and we lose the vegetation to capture carbon.
When you add up the suppression, indirect and rehabilitation costs, the infamous 2002 Hayman Fire in Colorado, cost around $207 million, according to the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition. Each cost category has gone up exponentially since then.
Recently, I had the opportunity to stay at one of the magnificent Summit County Huts. The journey began at a Summit Stage stop in Frisco near the post office. The ride as always is free to guests and 15 minutes later I disembarked at Passage Point Copper Mountain.
The group of volunteers gathered, then made our way up the Colorado Trail about 5.5 miles to Janet’s Cabin. The forest was reasonably plush, as it had been raining and at 11,000 feet. Dead lodgepole pines were not in sight. It even snowed in the evening and the next chilly morning. The outing provided the perfect get away to think about the daunting environmental issues here in the region and beyond.
Millions of Americans will visit our magnificent forests and waterways over the summer engaged in hiking, rafting, fishing, and camping. This is coincidentally at a time when we are in full crisis mode, as the Pacific Northwest and Northeast Coast bake in an extremely dangerous heat wave. Humans are suffering and dying. Infrastructure is severely strained as roads are buckling and power cables are melting.
This follows an extreme episode in the already notoriously arid southwest where a 20-year mega drought continues with expectations that it will get worse.
Global warming trends are a significant contributor to the precarious situation we face. The parched soil is not able to help absorb the heat as temperatures rise. Global warming is costing us and will continue to do so in the future unless we act with massive ferocity.
Friends of the Lower Blue River is proud to announce the establishment of The Founders Award. This award will be given annually. It recognizes those who have made significant contributions to the quality of the Lower Blue River Valley. In its first award, FOLBR recognizes Pam Beardsley and her husband George, posthumously.
Pam and George Beardsley were not only instrumental in establishing a conservation easement on their own ranch property, they also shared the value of conservation with others in the Lower Blue River Valley. Thanks to their leadership, other ranch owners followed suit establishing easements. The Lower Blue has large land parcels protected from further development in the future.
By: Sawyer D'Argonne
Summit Daily News
Trainer Emily Jacobs works to familiarize Beau the horse with getting into a trailer at the Pebble Creek Ranch on Monday, June 7.
Wildfire season continues to creep closer, evidenced by the hazy skies that emerged over Summit County on Tuesday, June 8, as smoke from fires burning around Colorado and the Southwest drifted overhead.
By now, Summit County residents should be well prepared, hopefully having taken the past few months to create defensible space around homes and ready evacuation kits in order to leave the area at a moment’s notice. But for those responsible for pets and livestock, there’s more to think about than just getting themselves out of the house safely.
Come share an evening with Friends of the Lower Blue River on Wednesday, February 12th at the Silverthorne Pavilion between 5:30 and 8:00pm, for an inspiring evening showcasing the beauty of the Lower Blue River Valley. Renowned Colorado Photographer John Fielder will share his work and ideas for preserving our natural world. John's latest book will be available as well. We will present a short Water and Wildlife film festival on the unique character of our area along with a global perspective. We'll have a cash bar, silent auction and heavy hors d’oeuvres provided by Food Hedz Catering.
Tickets are $15/person in advance and $20/person at the door. You can purchase your advance tickets by going to the Eventbrite link below.
We Promote environmental integrity in the Blue River Valley
